SFNL: St Paul’s McKinnon pair slot 17 goals after three stars went down with injury

Two St Paul’s McKinnon smalls, including a mid-season recruit, combined for 17 majors on Saturday after it was dealt three cruel injury blows.

Sam Hilton-Joyce celebrates one of his seven first-half goals. Picture: St Paul's McKinnon club photographer.

St Paul’s McKinnon quickly issued a timely reminder of its firepower amid a cruel injury wave.

The Bulldogs have lost livewire Nick Stathopoulos (ACL), defender Harry Hunt (foot) and star captain Matt Kreymborg (leg) for extended periods of time.

But Saturday’s performance could be proof the Bulldogs remain dangerous even without their accomplished stars.

Mid-season recruit Sam Hilton-Joyce kicked 10 goals and Judd Rowell slotted seven as the smalls ran amok at Chelsea Heights.

Bulldogs’ coach Andy Scott lauded the forwards for taking immediate ownership of a front end without Kreymborg and Stathopoulos.

“We were talking as a coaching group about how we go about it and at the end of the day the game plan doesn’t change,” he said.

“That’s the most positive thing about it, we’ve brought in some new guys but the roles and responsibilities have stayed the same.

“You take the leading goal kicker out of any team, your forwards are going to have to structure up differently but it’s great that the forward line has taken ownership of it.”

Matthew Kreymborg kicks one of his competition-high 42 goals for the year. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Hilton-Joyce exploded with four goals in the first quarter before Rowell raised him with five in the second.

Scott said Hilton-Joyce and Rowell’s fill-up in the 128-point win was “a reward for effort” for weeks of hard work.

“Juddy has put in an amazing block of training over the last five or six weeks and now he’s starting to get the results,” he said.

“Sammy, since moving over, has slotted in perfectly but it’s all about the effort he’s putting in and understanding the game plan.

“He had 26 touches and took 12 marks which just shows he’s working up the ground, not just sitting at full forward wanting Joe the goose’s.”

Nick Stathopoulos was bound for a team of the year plaque. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Scott hopes to get Hunt and Kreymborg back before the Doggies’ 2024 finals campaign but its curtains on a brilliant season for the exciting Stathopoulos.

Kreymborg, who was on his way to giving a third league medal a shake, courageously ran back with the flight of the ball and was met heavily by a Mordialloc opponent last week.

A stretcher was called but he rose to his feet and bravely walked off the ground.

Stathopoulos, meanwhile, kicked 20 goals from 11 starts before doing his ACL against Bentleigh.

He was one of the players who inspired the Southern league to its triumphant interleague win over the Riddell District league in May.

“Yeah the back end just prior to finals or in finals would be best case scenario for Krem,” Scott said.

“It’s heartbreaking for Slick (Stathopoulos), doing an ACL, so that’s him done for the year.

“We expect Harry back around the same time as Krem.”

The Bulldogs take on Cheltenham in the top-of-the-table clash this weekend.